Capers

loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Stranding Location: Offshore of Capers Island, SC

Arrival Date: 05/31/2011

Age: juvenile

Weight: 42.9 kg (~95 lb)

Case History

This 42.9 kg loggerhead was captured by the SCDNR’s sea turtle research trawl survey on 31 May 2011 near Capers Island. The vast majority of sea turtles caught, examined, and released by the SCDNR’s research crew are healthy. However, this loggerhead had circular red lesions on the majority of his soft tissues (see neck picture) and was transferred to our Sea Turtle Hospital for rehabilitation.

Treatment

Upon arrival, Capers received injectable antibiotics, fluids, and vitamins, and his skin lesions were treated with betadine. We’ve seen several cases of sea turtles stranded due to SCUD (septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease) this year and think this turtle may have been in the early stages of this disease when he was captured offshore. He is mildly anemic and his blood protein levels are low, but Capers prognosis is good.

Updates

15 June 2011: Capers is a happy and inquisitive turtle that has quickly become a favorite among our staff. He eagerly ate two live blue crabs the day after he was admitted and has been eating well since. The antibiotics seem to be working well, and the red lesions are no longer visible on the soft tissues. Come visit him in the hospital and watch him swim around with his head in his tube!

17 August 2011: Capers has finished rehab and will be returned to the wild this Friday, August 19th, at 4:30 P.M. Come watch him swim off into the Atlantic at Isle of Palms County Park.